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1 |
Case Study Site (CSS) |
2 - Groningen (Netherlands) |
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1.1 |
Responsible partner |
1. WU - WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY |
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1.2 |
Short description of the CSS |
Fodder, root (potatoes) and vegetable farms are located in the North of the Netherlands. Since 2017, we have strengthened our collaboration with the farmers during the previous projects. We have assessed pesticides and microplastics in both conventional and organic farms, with higher amount of pesticide residues in soil of conventionally managed farms. Possible sources of microplastics pollution in those fields are composts polluted with plastics, plastic mulches residues and microplastics drift. We are working on this topic to understand the reason and extent of this pollution. |
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2 |
Location |
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2.1 |
Postal address |
Wadden Max, Ommelanderweg 32, 9978 TC Hornhuizen, Netherlands |
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2.2 |
Name of region, province or canton |
Groningen province |
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2.3 |
Coordinates (google earth) |
Latitude: 53.21721° N Longitude: 6.57353° E |
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2.4 |
Altitude in meters (below sea level) |
1m – 3.15 m |
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3 |
Characteristics |
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3.1 |
Climate |
Humid Atlantic; mean annual temperature: 9.4 ºC, mean annual precipitation: 780 mm |
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3.2 |
Land use |
Mainly agriculture. Fodder and potato crops are the dominant crops. Other land cover include cereals (maize) and grassland. Several farms, Farm extension >25 ha. |
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3.3 |
Main crop |
Cereals (corn), potatoes, vegetables |
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3.4 |
Water supply (e.g. irrigation system) |
Groundwater aquifer & surface water |
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3.5 |
Type of drinking water supply |
Groundwater aquifer & surface water |
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4 |
Farming systems |
Conventional |
Organic |
Integrated |
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4.1 |
Assessment of feasibility to find farming systems in (reasonable) geographical isolation |
> 10 farms, relatively isolated |
> 10 farms, relatively isolated |
- |
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4.2 |
Potential for increasing yield |
Yes |
Yes |
- |
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4.3 |
Potential for reducing costs |
Yes |
Yes |
- |
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4.4 |
Application periods |
April-June all types of pesticides March: compost |
- |
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4.5 |
Alternative farming methods |
Use of cover crops, rotation (winter and summer crops) |
Use of cover crops, rotation, several crops per year, including winter crops. Resistant varieties. |
- |
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5 |
Plastic use / other stressors |
Conventional |
Organic |
Integrated |
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5.1 |
Sources of MPs |
compost and plastic mulches |
Compost and other sources (careless disposal of plastic packaging material residues from the roads). |
- |
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5.2 |
Plastic types |
LDPE |
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5.3 |
Pesticides used: - |
In root crops: Herbicides (g/ha): Carfentraozone-ethyl (120) Cyazofamid (90), Cymoxanil (120), Glyphosate (70), Linuron (500), Metamitron (340), Pendimethalin (70) Fungicides (g/ha): Azoxystrobin (690), Bixafen (50), Cyazofamid (90), Cymoxanil (120), Difenoconazole (50), Epoxiconazole (80), Fenpropimorph (250), Fluopicolide (120), Fluoxastrobin (10), Mandipropamid (700), Mancozeb (100), Propamocarb (1,190), Prothioconazole (70) Insecticides (g/ha): Cyromazine (10), Oxamyl (1,500). |
In root and fodder crops: No PPPs applied |
- |
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5.4 |
Veterinary drugs enter via dung |
Yes, according to Lahr et al. 2017 |
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6 |
Ongoing sharing of experiences |
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6.1 |
Ongoing training provision |
At Kollumerwaard, the farmers meet once per month and discuss the issues related to present and future of their production and farms |
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6.2 |
Ongoing studies on agricultural production in the region |
The Groningen province government is financially encouraging farmers to adopt more environment friendly farming practices. |
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7 |
Human population |
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7.1 |
Demographics: age distribution |
>65 years: 12.6%; 45-65 years:21.3%; 25-45 years: 30.4%; 15-45 years: 23.5%;0-5 years:11.9%. |
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7.2 |
Density |
251 persons/km2, 2.2 persons/household |
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7.3 |
Main villages |
Municipalities: De Marne, Eemsmond, Winsum |
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7.4 |
Regional & local organisation of health system, access to health information |
The University Medical Centre and the Martini Hospital. All hospitals in the Netherlands are private. |
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7.5 |
Socio-economic characteristics |
40,900 Euros |
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7.6 |
Main sources of income by sector |
Agriculture and Natural gas (in the last year only agriculture). |
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7.7 |
Social security system, subsidies (farmers) |
Public social security system |
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8 |
Relevant stakeholder organizations |
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8.1 |
Local authorities |
The Provincial Council of Groningen consists of 43 members and the Provincial Executive consists of the King's Commissioner and six deputies. The government has its seat in the city of Groningen, which is the provincial capital. |
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8.2 |
Farmers union |
The nieuwe weg; Noord Nederlandse Biologishce landbouwvereninging; |
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8.3 |
Other |
NGO - Biologische boeren in Groningen NGO - Natuurinclusieve landbouw NGO - Noordz (Bewust biologisch-provincie Groningen) |
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9 |
Diagnosis |
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9.1 |
Problems/threats/challenges |
Compost application |
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9.2 |
Potential for increasing soil quality |
Biological, organic and agro ecological management
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9.3 |
Ongoing research and innovation actions on agricultural production |
Yes, through WU |
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9.4 |
Data availability–MPs in soil |
In root crops since 2018 |
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10 |
Links to relevant information |
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https://denieuweweg.nu/bio-in-grun/bioboeren/ https://www.provinciegroningen.nl/projecten/natuurinclusieve-landbouw/ https://www.noordz.nl/2017/04/24/bewust-biologisch-provincie-groningen/ |
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11 |
References |
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https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groningen_(provincie) https://knoema.com/atlas/Netherlands/Groningen/GDP-per-capita https://allecijfers.nl/gemeente/groningen/ https://www.provinciegroningen.nl/over-groningen/kerngegevens/bevolkingsaantallen/ Lahr, J., Bondt, N., de Koeijer, T., Wipfler, E.L., Berendsen, B., Hoeksma, P., van Overbeek, L., Mevius, D.J. 2017. A step towards the environmental prioritisation of veterinary medicines from animal manure. Knowledge Journal for Water Professionals (2). |
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